Coca-Cola brews new plan with $5-bn UK-based coffee chain Costa buy

The $5.1-bn deal is the biggest purchase in 8 yrs for the world's largest beverage firm

Coca-Cola announced on Friday it was acquiring UK-based coffee chain Costa for $5.1 billion, giving it straight access to the dynamic and competitive coffee retail market, a new area for the world's largest beverage company.  The acquisition, Coca-Cola's biggest in eight years, points to bold bets the company is willing to take as it seeks alternatives to fizzy drinks, say experts.

Costa Coffee is the UK’s largest coffee retailer with a presence in over 30 countries across Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific, including China and India. 

This is the second transaction involving a consumer products company and a coffee retailer after